Down 7-0 in 6th, Bears storm back

Associated Press

Published 10:34 pm, Saturday, May 31, 2014

OKLAHOMA CITY — Kaitlyn Thumann doubled and scored on an error in the bottom of the eighth inning as Baylor rallied from a seven-run deficit to stun Kentucky 8-7 on Saturday night in an elimination game in the Women's College World Series.

Baylor (49-15) advanced to play fifth-seeded Florida on Sunday. The 13th-seeded Bears would have to beat the Gators (52-12) twice to advance to the best-of-3 finals.

Kentucky (50-19) led 7-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth, but Kelsey Nunley (30-11) gave up six singles during a three-run rally for Baylor. Ari Hawkins led off the seventh with a solo home run to make it 7-4, and Robin Landrith's two-run, two-out double tied it.

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In the eighth, after Thumann doubled, Hawkins bunted and Kentucky catcher Griffin Joiner threw the ball into right field, allowing Thumann to score.

Baylor (48-15) advanced to play Kentucky later Saturday in another elimination game. Florida State (55-9) managed only two runs in its two WCWS games, losing 3-0 to Oregon in the first round.

Florida State's national player of the year, pitcher Lacey Waldrop, struggled for a second straight game. After giving up 10 hits to Oregon, Waldrop (38-7) surrendered six hits to the Bears in four innings, including three in a three-run second inning highlighted by Strickland's first homer. Clare Hosack and Linsey Hays hit sharp singles before Strickland's shot over the left-center wall.

Meanwhile, Stearns — making her first start since May 3 against Iowa State — struck out the side in the first inning and gave up four hits while striking out seven in 42/3 innings.

“Heather Stearns hasn't thrown in a long, long time,” Baylor coach Glenn Moore said. “For her to come out and pitch a game like that against Florida State, a great hitting team, I can't say enough good things about her.”

Robin Landrith's RBI single keyed a two-run fourth that put the Bears up 5-0.

In the fifth, the Seminoles got a two-out, two-run double from Briana Hamilton off Stearns (14-4). But with the potential tying run at the plate, Canion — Baylor's ace — retired Kelly Hensley and finished the game with her second save of the season.